It always seems like non-astronomer types need help, they will probably need binoculars too. Anyway, looks like good photo op on March 12, Panstar will be near the crescent moon.
I've been exchanging emails with some folks on both sides of Australia
about the comet.
I asked how it looks to the naked eye and all replies agree that it's not that easy to see and that non-astronomer types usually have to have it pointed out to them.
During calls from media yesterday and today I've been advising caution when telling the public about what to expect. One thing we don't need to repeat is overhyping this like was done with Kohoutek and then have the public ignore ISON later this year as so many ignored the truly beautiful Comet West after Kohoutek did not live up to its hype.
I'll append a copy of one of the emails from Oz below.
Happily both the SPOC and SLC Clear Sky Clocks are showing improving skies for tomorrow so I'm still hoping we will get our first shot at the comet tomorrow.
patrick
Sent from my iPad
From here (latitude -23°) it is a difficult object to show to anybody who is not an astronomer. Visible to the naked eye, when you know where it is, and really at the right time. To early you donât see it, too late, itâs gone. Nothing to do with Mc Naught in 2006 or Lovejoy for example.
I made a video, on a tripod (Canon 5D Mark II with 200mm F/1.8), and placed it on vimeo https://vimeo.com/61354254
It gives a fairly good idea of what is possible to do, in reality, visually I mean, the comet appears fainter.
Doesnât mean of course the comet is not interesting. I placed the images I took so far on http://www.spaceobs.com/perso/recherche/cometes/PanstarrsL4/
You will see many jets coming out of the nucleus. Alain _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy
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